15 predictions that Bill Gates made in 1999 that were scarily accurate

If this doesn't blow your mind, we don't know what will

Back in the innocent times of 1999 while the rest of us were worried about Y2K (remember that?) Bill Gates was predicting what the world would look like in the coming decades. Sure, many of us think of Steve Jobs as the greater genius but while Jobs was busy selling shiny, colourful computers to his customers, Bill Gates had already predicted the future in his book Business @ the Speed of Thought. The good folks over at Business Insider pulled out 15 predictions that Gates made in his book that are so accurate, it’s scary.

1. The rise of smartphones

While tablets, for a brief while, were seen as the devices that would bridge the gap between mobile phones and computers, smartphones have taken over every single aspect of our lives.

What Bill Gates predicted: “People will carry around small devices that allow them to constantly stay in touch and do electronic business from wherever they are. They will be able to check the news, see flights they have booked, get information from financial markets, and do just about anything else on these devices.”

2. Virtual Personal Companions

Siri, Google Now and Cortana are the personal assistants that can do things at your bidding your smartphones. Even Amazon Kindle can read out your favourite books for you. Smart devices like Nest collects data about your daily routine, voice-controlled devices like Amazon’s Echo and Google Home could recite recipes for you. The things your virtual personal assistants can do are mind-boggling.

Here’s what Bill Gates predicted in 1999: “Personal companions’ will be developed. They will connect and sync all your devices in a smart way, whether they are at home or in the office, and allow them to exchange data. The device will check your email or notifications, and present the information that you need. When you go to the store, you can tell it what recipes you want to prepare, and it will generate a list of ingredients that you need to pick up. It will inform all the devices that you use of your purchases and schedule, allowing them to automatically adjust to what you’re doing.”

3. Social Media

At a time when the 15-year-old Mark Zuckerberg was probably still fretting about that zit or his prom night, Bill Gates predicted the rise of sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Of course, social media as a term was still about a decade and a half away from being invented, but…

Gates predicted: “Private websites for your friends and family will be common, allowing you to chat and plan for events.”

4. Live Sports discussion platforms online

Every major social media site has, today, become a platform for discussing (among other things) live sports events. Be it Facebook, which will prompt you to comment on the India v Pakistan game that’s going on, or Twitter that does live streaming of select games or even ESPN the home for all things sports, allows people to leave comments on their website in real time, during a match.

Gates predicted: “While watching a sports competition on television, services will allow you to discuss what is going on live, and enter contest where you vote on who you think will win.”.

5. TV Commercials linking viewers to websites

It is rare to see a commercial today that doesn’t encourage you to go back to their product’s website. Back at a time when websites were still a relatively new phenomenon (not to mention, expensive enterprise)…

Gates predicted: “Television broadcast will include links to relevant websites and content that complement what you are watching.”

6. Websites for people with similar interests

Whether it’s Tinder or Facebook or even your favourite news website, everyone wants you to connect with people with interests similar to yours. And while it took Facebook years to group people with similar leanings together…

Gates had predicted back in 1999: “Online communities will not be influenced by your location, but rather, your interest.”

7. Websites that compare different prices

How often have you googled to compare prices of that new phone or that new jacket you wanted to buy? Turns out Bill Gates had predicted that too.

Back in ’99 Gates said:“Automated price comparison services will be developed, allowing people to see prices across multiple websites, making it effortless to find the cheapest product for all industries.”

8. Handling Health and Finance online

PayTM became the most favoured mode of payment soon after demonetisation and other service providers jumped on to the bandwagon. Even in a cash-dominated economy such as India, online payments are slowly but surely making inroads. Similarly services such as Practo are making it easier for patients to find and communicate with doctors around the country. But…

Gates had already predicted this:“People will pay their bills, take care of their finances, and communicate with their doctors over the internet.”

9. Home-monitoring systems for security

Got a baby to keep an eye on or paranoid if your house is safe while you’re away? The video feed is only just a tap-on-the-screen away. Back at a time when the use of CCTV cameras was somewhat limited, compared to today…

Gates predicted: “Constant video feeds of your house will become common, which inform you when somebody visits while you are not home.”

10. Automated Promotional Offers

At a time when everything from booking travel tickets to hotels was a cumbersome process, who would’ve thought of a software that would automatically send notifications suggesting hotels at a discounted rate and offer deals on nearby restaurants at the destination, after booking your travel tickets online?

Gates did: “Software that knows when you’ve booked a trip and uses that information to suggest activities at the local destination. It suggests activities, discounts, offers, and cheaper prices for all the things that you want to take part in.”

11. Smart Advertising

If there’s something you like, the internet automatically knows about it and offers it to you on a silver platter. Those cookies and pop-up ads that appear based on your previous search history have made life so much easier compared to way back in the 90s when you’d have to keep visiting your favourite shop to check out what’s new.

Gates predicted:“Devices will have smart advertising. They will know your purchasing trends, and will display advertisements that are tailored toward your preferences.”

12. Online discussion boards

The instant anything noteworthy happens, your twitter is buzzing with tweets and what people have to say. Although during the old times when your family would sit huddled in front of the television to catch the daily news, nobody would’ve imagined that almost two decades later, when any new issue crops up – be it political, economic or social – everyone would be able to comment and discuss it live over a common platform. Nobody, that is, except Bill Gates.

Gates predicted:“Residents of cities and countries will be able to have internet-based discussions concerning issues that affect them, such as local politics, city planning, or safety.”

13. Software that enables project management

Remember those numerous calls that you would have make to acquaintances and references just so you could be a part of a project that you’ve wanted for so long? Gates’ foresight saw it differently back then for the coming decades…

Gates’ prediction: “Project managers looking to put a team together will be able to go online, describe the project, and receive recommendations for available people who would fit their requirements.”

14. Online-based recruitment

People of a certain vintage would remember the time when you’d have to scour local newspapers for a job. Of course, Gates knew back in 1999, that all of that was going to change. Websites like Glassdoor and LinkedIn internationally and Naukri and HeadHonchos in India allow companies to look for suitable employees based on their profile and vice-versa.

Gates accurately predicted: “Similarly, people looking for work will be able to find employment opportunities online by declaring their interest, needs, and specialised skills.”

15. Business community software

Back when the term ‘freelance’ was used to describe medieval mercenary who would offer their skills to the highest bidder, Gates predicted the change in its meaning in today’s world. Scores of companies outsource services by hiring freelancers online that are suitable for the job.

Gates’ prediction: “Companies will be able to bid on jobs, whether they are looking for a construction project, a movie production, or an advertising campaign. This will be efficient for both big companies that want to outsource work that they don’t usually face, businesses looking for new clients, and corporations that don’t have a go-to provider for the said service.”